My First 5K Race

smiles4jo · September 2016

Over the summer, I finished C25K. As a celebration, I signed up for a race as motivation.

As it turns out, that race is this weekend and I'm so not ready. I stopped running over the summer and just started back again last week. I started back at Week 3 of C25K, so this week, I'm on Week 4.

I feel so unprepared and I'm considering just not going.

Should I just suck it up and go, even if I'm going to walk half the course?

pondee629 · September 2016

Go, start slow and see how it goes. Plug week 4 into you ear phones and follow it. Finish as best you can. The worst that can happen is you get the 5K in with a walk, not too bad.

foen_i · September 2016

5k is 90% in your Head. Just push through and keep a conservative pace, Walk a minute after every mile

AliceDark · September 2016

Yes, absolutely you should still go! There will be lots of people doing run/walk intervals, and people who just walk the whole way. You're not going to stand out at all. Just start a little bit farther back in the pack and try to be aware of the people around and behind you if/when you drop from a run into a walk. I've nearly run people over during 5ks because they were in the middle of a group of runners and suddenly dropped to a walk. Try to keep just a little bit of space on either side of you so that people can go around if necessary. (And by that I mean don't be shoulder-to-shoulder with the person next to you; even a little bit of space is good. That's a good general race day tip anyway, not just for run/walk people).

Ready2Rock206 · September 2016

Absolutely go! Lots of people walk. Go, have fun, enjoy it!! The ONLY time I run (if you can call it that) is during 5ks. I'm never prepared. They're fun! Just do it! If one of my friends goes with we usually walk the entire thing - no big deal! I did a 5k the last 2 weekends - one was with a friend and we walked the entire course - yesterday I was alone and jogged the entire course. Both were great fun. Just do what YOU can do and don't worry about it!

tri_bob · September 2016

As has already been suggested: yes. Run, walk, run/walk, whatever. If you've never done a race before, it's worth having the experience. For some (including me), the vibe at a race is energizing and positive, regardless of how you expect to perform or actually perform. For others, it's less enjoyable. Might as well get your taste, and figure out how the race atmosphere works for you. There's no pressure, and you'll undoubtedly see people both in front of and behind you. Do what you can/want to, and soak it all in.
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davepete57 · September 2016

Go for it. I did my 1st 5K two weeks ago and the feeling of accomplishment is wonderful. I'm planning on doing one in Oct & 1 in Nov. Every run has all types of participants, runners joggers, walkers, etc. The race I did have times from just over 20 minutes to well over an hour. Good luck

playmadcats · September 2016

Go for it. Just be prepared to walk and run, not run it all.
Had my first beginning of September. Signed up three weeks before then was blighted with illness and injury.
Still made it round in the time I hoped to get even though walked last half due to ankle beginning to ache ( slipped on stone during training and didn't want to mess it up again).
Everyone was great and good thing is I know I can do better next time as hopefully will be able to run whole thing.

SueInAz · September 2016

Do it. You already paid for it and it'll be a fun experience. There's no rule that you have to run the entire 5K. I've been running for 5 years and I didn't run for an entire 5K race until earlier this year; I've always run in intervals.